Included in this tutorial:

Accessing the Add Locations tool
Review of the tool’s parameters and options
An example running the tool and examining the results

Software version in examples: ArcGIS Pro 3.0.0

Tutorial Data: The tutorial includes demonstration with the Network Tutorial Data available here.

Credits: L. Meisterlin with Varisa Tanti and Nikolas Michael (2022)

This tutorial demonstrates using the Add Locations tool in ArcGIS Pro to assign points to serve specific roles in the analysis as sublayers.

For example, this tool is used to add locations such as “facilities,” “barriers,” and so on.

Related Tutorials:

For more on network analysis layers in ArcGIS Pro, see Working with Network Analysis Layers.
This tool requires the Network Analyst Extension in ArcGIS Pro. To verify that you have the Network Analyst Extension, see Which Esri Extensions Is My Software Licensed to Use?

Accessing the Add Locations Tool

You can access the Add Locations tool and options in two ways: through the ArcGIS interface and through (like all tools) the Geoprocessing pane.

Option 1: through the Interface

Access the Add Locations tool dialogue box by clicking on the relevant options within the Input Data options of the analysis layer’s tab in the main menu ribbon.

The exact options will vary depending on the type of analysis layer. In the example below, we show accessing the relevant tab for a service area analysis layer, which includes “Import Facilities” as well as other smaller options, including a drop down menu to add other location types. (In the example of a service area analysis, the only required locations required for the analysis are “facility” points.)

the analysis layer menu in the main menu ribbon and the Input Data options

Clicking Import Facilities will summon the Add Locations tool dialogue box.

Option 2: through the Geoprocessing Pane

Access the Add Locations tool by clicking the Geoprocessing toolbox in the main ribbon, and clicking through Network Analysis Tools > Analysis > Add Locations. You can also search for “Add Locations” in the search bar.

The path to open up the Add Locations tool is Geoprocessing Tools > Network Analysis Tools > Analysis > Add Locations.

Add Locations Parameters & Options

In the Add Locations dialogue box, you will see these fields: Input Network Analysis Layer, Sub Layer, Input Locations, Field Mappings, Append to Existing Locations, and Snap to Network.

The Standard Inputs

Here’s a brief description of the different inputs:

Input Network Analysis Layer: Specify the network analysis layer to which the locations will be added.
Sub Layer: Specify the network sublayer to which the locations will be added. This parameter designates the role these locations will serve within the analysis.
Input Locations: The feature class or table containing the locations to be added to the network analysis sublayer.
Field Mappings: The mapping between specific fields from the input data attributes and the analysis layer’s properties, if applicable. The Field Mappings options change whether they are based on input geometry or based on the network’s location fields (these options are in the Field Mappings drop-down).
Append to Existing Locations: Specify whether new locations will be appended to existing objects (already added locations). A checked box will append the new set of objects to the selected sublayer. An unchecked box will replace the existing network analysis objects and replace them with new objects.
Snap to Network: Specifies whether the inputs will be snapped to their calculated network locations or represented at their original geographic locations.
If locations are snapped to the network, you will also have the option to establish an offset distance (a distance from the network where locations will be represented).

Advanced Options (selected)

Expanding the “Advanced” toggle reveals several optional parameters. The two most commonly helpful of these options are described below.

Search Tolerance: Specify the maximum search distance the tool will use to locate an input feature “on” the network. Features that are farther than this distance from the nearest portion of the network will not be added to the analysis layer’s sublayer as locations.
Sort Field: By default, the features added to your analysis as locations are ordered by their ObjectID values. Use this option to specify a different field in the input features’ attribute table to order the locations as they are added. (This is helpful if the labeling of the locations will matter later for purposes of comparison, via a table join for example.)

Example and Results

This example will use the Network Data Package from Tutorial Data to add locations to a network analysis layer.

the Add Locations tool panel with example parameters

In our example screenshot, we are adding locations to a network analysis layer called “Service Area” within its “Facilities” sublayer.

Our input locations are derived from the points in the feature class called “subway_entrances.”

Our field mappings are based on the input geometry.

To execute the tool, click Run.

The results of the tool will be visible in the map view. The location points are added to the analysis layer’s relevant sublayer. (In our example, they are Facilities, symbolized as larger purple dots.)

the example results of the “Add Locations” tool in map view and in the Contents pane

Note that any resulting errors will be symbolized differently, such that you can examine them.

TIP: If input features are not located on the network properly (or left unlocated), consider re-running the tool with a new search tolerance.

Adding Locations to a Network Analysis Layer